Montevideo, March 2 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Tabaré Vazquez, who governed Uruguay from 2005 to 2010, began his second presidential term on Sunday.

The 75-year-old Vazquez, who takes over from Jose Mujica from the same progressive Broad Front party, will serve as president until the year 2020.

More than 100 delegations and world leaders, including Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, and King Juan Carlos of Spain, attended the inauguration ceremony at the Uruguayan Parliament in Montevideo.

“Liberty, education, equality, justice, democracy, determination, solidarity, integration, respect for others and respect for the constitution … I promise to respect the human values proclaimed by Artigas,” said Vazquez, to the applause of the guests.

One of his key electoral promises was to increase education spending to by 1.5 percent to 6 percent of GDP and the introduction of a Nordic style health system to further improve the access to health care for all. He also pledged to tackle high inflation, lower taxes, and develop infrastructure and rail transport and advance Uruguay's environmental sustainability.

The world-renowned Mujica is leaving office with a 65 percent approval rating, making him one of the world’s most popular presidents.